Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology is the specialty of dentistry, pathology and microbiology which deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. As well said byWilliam Osler “As is your pathology so is your practice”. This suffices to clear the importance of this speciality. The practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology and microbiology includes research, diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical or ancillary examinations, and management of patients. The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology at M. R. Ambedkar Dental College & Hospital, Bangalore began in the year 1986-87 with the inception of the institute. The department is concerned with the teaching of Dental Anatomy, Oral Histology and Oral Physiology to I BDS students and Oral Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Odontology to II BDS and III BDS students. The post-graduate course in the Department of Oral Pathology was started in the year 2011-12. The post-graduate student gain experience in oral and maxillofacial pathology and microbiology practice, surgical pathology, clinical management of patients with disorders of the head and neck, pathology laboratory management and teaching and research skills for enhancement of a challenging career.The program prepares full-fledgedoral and maxillofacial pathologistsand microbiologists for advancement of the speciality and outreach services for the patients at large. Apart from teaching, the department is engaged in multi-faceted research activities and is equipped with the state of the art equipment for the same. The department also houses Clinical Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry, Immuno-pathology, Molecular Biology and Clinical Microbiology for efficient services.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

The Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology service shares the overall role and mission to preserve, advance, and disseminate knowledge. The Service has as its mission the following:

To ensure optimal care through accurate diagnosis and management of diseases and abnormalities of the oral and maxillofacial region.

To provide the state of the art, comprehensive consultation and tissue diagnostic and reporting services to hospitals, clinicians, private practitioners in dentistry and medicine.

To provide a center for teaching and dissemination of knowledge through its archived collections, its courses and public service.

To promote and encourage collaboration and interaction with other health care providers, laboratories, hospitals, and professional organizations to serve the community.

LIBRARY:

The department has an exclusive collection of books intended for use as ready reference bythe post graduate students. The Department Library also maintains a classified file of interesting articles and case reports for use by post graduate Students. The seminars, library dissertations and university dissertations presented by the post graduate students of the department are also available in the department library. Apart from books and journals the teaching aids viz. models, charts, casts and specimens are available and are used routinely.

MUSEUM:

The department has an excellent Oral Pathology museum. The specimens include neoplastic &nonneoplastic lesions, hard tissue pathology and provide excellent learning opportunities for both undergraduates & postgraduates. The specimens are constantly restored, replaced and new specimens are added every year. A rare case is displayed routinely as ‘Case of the Month’ in the department along with description of the lesion and histopathology photographs for the benefit of the students.

ACADEMICS:

UG CurriculumThe department is involved in teaching Undergraduate students of I BDS, II BDS & III BDS in the subjects of Oral Anatomy & Histology and Oral Pathology & Microbiology respectively. In Oral Anatomy & Histology, theory classes are taken covering all the basic aspects and practicals are dealt with respect to the normal histology slides related to tooth development and various other Oro-facial structures, identification of normal morphology and different dentitions of human teeth with the help of casts and specimens. It is also related with carving of all permanent teeth.In Oral Pathology, theory classes are taken covering all the basic aspects of oral pathology and microbiology and forensic odontology and practical classes are taken wherein students are trained to identify the pathology slides, casts and specimens of Oral diseases.

Postgraduate curriculum:The department is committed to provide knowledge par excellence to its postgraduates on a well thought out training programme in all spheres through didactic, self learning and interactive teaching methods.

The following are objectives of postgraduate training in Oral Pathology.

To train a graduate dental surgeon so as to ensure higher competence in both general and special pathology dealing with the nature of oral diseases, their causes, processes and effects.

An oral pathologist is expected to perform routine histopathological evaluation of specimens relating to oral and perioral tissues, to carry out routine diagnostic procedures including hematological, cytological, microbiological and immunological investigations.

The student are trained to understand the clinico-pathologic aspects of the disease, special investigations as and when necessary and in the interpretation of collected data.

The student is expected to have an understanding of current research methodology, collection and interpretation of data, ability to carry out research projects on clinical and or epidemiological aspects, a working knowledge on current databases, automated data retrieval systems, referencing and skill in writing scientific papers.

The student is expected to present scientific data pertaining to the field, in conferences both as poster and verbal presentations and to take part in group discussions etc.